DeLand gets past sloppy Flagler Palm Coast

Turnovers sink FPC in 14-10 loss

PALM COAST -- Flagler Palm Coast made a game effort Friday night until a slew of second-half turnovers let DeLand play ball control and ultimately led to a 14-10 loss to the Volusia County school.

The final score was much closer than the rout DeLand administered to FPC in 2009, but that didn't hearten Bulldog fans or coach Caesar Campana.

FPC led the game twice, including a 10-7 halftime advantage, gave up one scoring drive early in the second half and could not find a way to defeat DeLand.

It wasn't that both teams didn't try to lose on numerous occasions. Each team fumbled twice, including a third-quarter run where they traded possessions three times in the space of six seconds, but FPC's costliest mistakes were a turnover on downs late in the third period and a fourth-quarter interception that drove the final nail in the coffin.

DeLand killed two of its own drives with a personal foul and a holding call, the second of which almost put FPC back in it when a shanked punt went all of 14 yards and gave the Bulldogs possession near midfield.

For all the miscues and what-ifs associated with the game, Campana was pleased with the effort against a heavily favored opponent that is one year removed from an appearance in the Class 6A championship game.

"I am proud of our kids. But you know what? We lost. Played well and we lost," Campana said.

FPC (1-1) had some difficulty corralling Florida-commitment De'Ante "Poppa' Saunders, who at times had the most typical of Poppa Saunders nights.

He scored one of DeLand's touchdowns on a 15-yard run in the second quarter and threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jo Jo Kemp on the opening drive of the third quarter which accounted for the only score of the second half.

Saunders finished with 161 yards rushing and 66 yards throwing.

By contrast, FPC's big feature back Derron Green bulled his way for 98 yards on 22 carries and sophomore quarterback Bentlee Critcher cashed in by throwing a touchdown pass and kicking a field goal.

DeLand had the first chance to score, punching inside the FPC red zone on its second possession of the game late in the first quarter. FPC stopped the drive and was rewarded when a bad snap snuffed a 32-yard field goal try by Hunter Haire.

After taking over, the Bulldogs marched as close as the DeLand 5 in a drive that transitioned to the second quarter and 50 seconds into the new period, Critcher connected from 22 out to give FPC a 3-0 lead.

Saunders and Co. sloughed that off, driving 80 years on second plays, with Saunders running left for 15 yards on the scoring play and diving into the end zone.

On the very next series, though, FPC benefited from a pass interference call and a nice mix of the run and pass to drive from its own 25 to score.

Crticher rolled left and hit fullback Markes Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown and a 10-7 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs had another chance to score when Devin Stout recovered a fumble at his own 25 while DeLand was moving the ball. FPC drove as close as the 11, but a bad snap on a field goal try with 30 seconds left made them come up empty.

DeLand consumed six minutes of clock time on the opening series of the second half. Running out of multiple formations and throwing the ball four times, the visitors scored on a well-executed screen pass on the left side, with Kemp racing most of the 30 yards untouched.

FPC fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, but got the ball back moments later on a fumble recovery by Luis Rodriguez. Within two plays, DeLand had the ball again on a third turnover, but shot itself in the foot with the holding call and a big 8-yard sack by FPC linebacker Nick Shaw.

The Bulldogs got back inside the DeLand 40 midway through the third peiod, but several pass incompletions led to a turnover on downs. Then, after DeLand's Ryan Rodwell's shanked punt gave them field position near the midfield stripe, Critcher threw a ball that Shawn Willis picked off with less than three minutes to play.